Fairness perception

In the 1970s researchers made the observation, that people are more likely to accept and adopt outcomes that are unwanted, when the decisions were based on correct information, when the decision was free from bias and applied constantly over time and above all, when the people affected by those decisions have been involved during the decision-making process (Leventhal, 1980).

This means that airport management should apply procedures that are as fair as possible and recognized as such by the public, in order to be perceived as a fair neighbor.

Asking for residents’ opinions, as “giving a voice” has already been shown to have a positive effect on the perception of fairness and reduced the annoyance due to noise significantly (Maris et al., 2006).

In sum, it can be said that procedural aspects of aircraft noise distribution can have an enormous influence on how people perceive aviation, the airport and the noise and to what extent they are annoyed by the noise. Interventions that take these insights into account can therefore be very effective.

Despite the positive effect of having voice or control in the decision-making process, fairness research could also show that providing information and explanations of a decision could also have a positive effect on the perception.

Imagine, as in scenario 2, you are lying awake in your bed at night because you hear loud party noises and voices from your neighbor, so you can imagine feeling anger towards your neighbor and being annoyed by the noises. If he/she comes to you the next day and explains in detail that it was his birthday and that his friends had planned a surprise party so that he/she had not had the opportunity to inform you in advance and apologizes for the nuisance, then your anger from last night will likely dissipate quickly.

From the perspective of fairness, informational and interpersonal aspects are important, in such a way that people may perceive unfairness, even though they consider the procedure and its results as fair, just because of improper treatment or a lack of justification (Bies & Moag, 1986).

Even in the case of a negative outcome, the decision may be recognized as fairer when an adequate justification is given by the party who made the decision (Bies & Shapiro; Bies & Shapiro, 1988). These findings highlight the need for airport management to establish a good communication and information policy with residents.

Since fairness is considered to be a highly important part of effective communication and engagement, a psychometric questionnaire is being developed in the framework of ANIMA to develop a deeper understanding of what aspects constitute a good, neighborly relationship between the airport and its residents.

Based on the latest research in the field of justice psychology and in accordance with findings that have emerged in the exchange with affected citizens, a psychometric questionnaire is being developed and tested in a study in the proximity of various German airports. In summary, the questionnaire is able to capture the perception of a fair and neighborly relationship and can aid to answer questions like:

With the survey of aspects of neighborliness, the effectiveness of interventions can be assessed, but it can also be determined at which points an intervention is necessary at all. Thus, the questionnaire offers an empirical instrument that can be used in a versatile and economic way due to its proven psychometric quality.

For the development of the questionnaire, participants in the study are presented with a number of different statements, with which they can more or less agree. A few example items:

• Before decisions are made on aircraft noise, I have the opportunity to share my views with those responsible.
• The airport takes the views of its residents into account in decision-making processes on aircraft noise.
• The information that the airport publishes around the topic of air traffic is trustworthy.
• The airport makes every effort to present the information it gives to its residents in a comprehensible way.
• The airport tries to respond to the individual needs of local residents.

These are just a few of the many questions that are intended to cover the range of different facets of a fair, neighborly relationship.

In a study involving a large number of residents from various German airports, the aim is to determine which questions are really relevant and can capture residents' perceptions of the airport.

As described, fairness in the context of aircraft noise research is an important ingredient that can be seen as an overarching goal and should underpin all airport actions covering decision-making processes, changes that happen or direct information and communication with residents.